Meeting the Needs of Community College Students Developing - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Meeting the Needs of Community College Students Developing Sustainable Web­based Advising Tools Andrew Roessler Presented by: Gabriel McGovern Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Session Overview Present the development of web content as an opportunity to create interactive advising tools. Our plan: • Outline the development of “road maps” • Describe web site redesign of the PCC/MHCC Career Pathways Training Program • Demonstrate a live web site update Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Program Overview Partnership • Portland Community College • Mt Hood Community College • Worksystems, Inc. • Over 20 professional/technical trainings • Develop trainings that lead to entry­level jobs in demand occupations Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Setting the Stage Reality • The web is often the first connection potential students make with our program. • Our web site was basically a repository for only the most basic information. Goal • We want to attract students to our program via the web. • We needed web­based advising tools that provide accurate and helpful information. Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Project Timeline 2005 2006 Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps “Being able to think in visual images reveals connections and relationships that are difficult to communicate through text… …visual mapping is a tool we are all going to need in order to design and disseminate complex information about academic programs in the future.” Stiehl and Lewchuk, 2002 Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps “…common characteristics of Workforce Development career pathways include…’road Professionals maps,’ jointly produced by educators, workforce development professionals, and employers, that show the connections between education and training programs and jobs at different levels within a given industry or occupational sector.” Employers Educators Career Pathways: Aligning Public Resources to Support Individual and Regional Economic Advancement in the Knowledge Economy, Davis Jenkins, August 2006, Workforce Strategy Center Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps Enlist Develop Academic web tool Department Prepare road map drafts for stakeholders Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps: Drafts Accounting – Draft #1 Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps: Drafts Accounting – Draft #2 Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps: Design Influences Visio Roadmaps Displayed digitally Previous branding Reusable design Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps: Prototyping Stage 1 ­ Paper used Easy to mockup several ideas quickly. Design Notes: • Orientation changed. • Visio “shapes” all replaced by simple boxes. • Detailed information removed for simplicity. Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps: Prototyping Stage 2 – Refine Design … and get sign­off before proceeding. Design Notes: •Content still “greeked”. • Several mockups created. Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps: Prototyping Stage 3 – Digital Layout Finally time to sit at the computer! Design Notes: • Style matches existing branding. • Colors and shapes used consistently. •Labels used where needed. Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps: Samples Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Road Maps: Samples Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign Given the limitations of our old web site a redesign was our logical next step. Guiding Questions ­Who can we get to help us? ­How do we want our students to experience our Program? ­What can we commit to in terms of sustainability or maintenance? Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign Who can we get to help us? •We could have gone anywhere for technical assistance •Discussed options with PCC Web Services Manager •Gabriel agree to take on the project •Project management •Design Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign How do we want students to experience our program? •On the front end •While they are in training •Post­training Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign What can we commit to in terms of sustainability or maintenance? •Access to good technical advice •Always ask this before committing Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign: Process “Not Just another migration” Project Phases 1. Definition 2. Development / Design 3. Implement & Rollout Support/Maintenance 4. Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign 1) Definition • Define Stakeholders. • Define site audience and needs. • Design branding scheme. Design site layout. • Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign Sustainable? • How often will pages need to be updated? • Who takes care of updates? • How are updates made? Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign 2) Development • Organize site content. • Identify missing content. • Join bi/weekly meeting for review and feedback. • Develop site in test environment. Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign 3) Implementation and Rollout • Site reviewed by all stakeholders. • Move site into production. • Update links and other resources that refer to old site. Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

Web Redesign 4) Support/Maintenance • Introduce page stats resource. • Set up Contribute accounts. • Supply basic training of Contribute features. • Provide continued support of Contribute accounts. Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007

For More Information Please Feel Free to Contact Us: Andrew Roessler Education Coordinator Portland Community College – Extended Learning Campus 503­788­6271 aroessle@pcc.edu Gabriel McGovern Web Designer (www.pcc.edu) Portland Community College – TSS | Sylvania Campus 503­977­4375 gabriel.mcgovern@pcc.edu Student Success Conference ■ Portland ■ 2007